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The inflow of asylum seekers from Turkey had significantly lessened following the signing of a deal between the EU and Ankara, but officials say it is now on the rise again.

It is thought that many migrants are making a last dash to reach Europe before autumn comes and more unpredictable weather makes the sea crossing much more risky.

AFP

Tens of thousands of asylum seekers are stranded in the country

AFP

Greece is struggling to cope with the numbers arriving

Mr Avramopoulos said: "Now is not the time to turn our back to Greece because the migration flows have declined."

"The EU member countries must continue to make staff available, especially for the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), so that the work can be strengthened locally. Now is not the time for indifference."

The EU is currently carrying out its biggest ever operation in Greece, with more than 700 officials from all 28 member states involved in the recording, registration and identification of arriving migrants.

But there are still thought to be more than 50,000 trapped in Greece who want to move on to other EU countries, especially Germany and Sweden.

Since the refugee agreement between the EU and Turkey, which was signed on March 18, the number of asylum applications in Greece has skyrocketed.

Under the terms of the agreement all migrants arriving in Greece are immediately sent back to Turkey unless they immediately claim asylum.

Greek government figures show that in February there were 1,467 asylum application in Greece, but that jumped to 4,013 in July.